crhilton

I don't think that'd do it for me. At 7F I'm gonna be wearing, for a short ride:
* wool balaclava (like you're wearing, prolly).
* Ski mask
* Some kind of beanie, with helmet over it
* A regular weight shirt
* A heavy sweater
* Thermal long underwear
* Jeans
* Wind break pants
* Heavy mittens
* Thermal boots (not cycling specific), possibly with chemical warmers
* Heavy wool sock
* Thin "thermal" sock

And I won't be very sweaty when I'm done... I guess I must take it way too easy in the winter.

You really have to dress for:
* Temperature
* Personal problems (you might need more to keep extremities warm than other people)
* How hard you ride
* How long you'll be out (if you're only riding for a half hour you can get by with lots of the wrong materials, if you're out for 2 hours you'd better avoid cotton)


This next winter I'm gonna be looking to do more 1-2 hour rides and I'm gonna be investing in more "sporty" warm clothes. You know, tights, base layers, gore and the like. Got a pair of winter cycling shoes for half off last month


If you're somewhere slick, like I am, I strongly recommend a good studded tire. Go carbide. I wore a set of steel studs out in two seasons.

crhilton

I disagree about fredding up. There's overpriced cycle specific stuff that looks form fitting and overly colorful for all your winter needs.

crhilton

Do you use those chemical shoe warmers? I've heard mixed reviews. Personally I have a hard time getting them to stay warm while stuffed in my shoes.

banerjek

This stuff makes a huge difference. You really don't need that much, so long as your layers wick away sweat and everything breathes well. Being warm isn't so much a matter of dressing heavy as it is dressing right -- it's easy to freeze with a lot of clothes if you don't do it right, and you can feel warm with much less.

I won't wear anything except technical fabrics and light high quality wool layers in the cold. Stuff like jeans, thermal underwear containing cotton, regular shirts, etc will make you freeze.

RT

Neoprene Gators ftw. I ride down to 10ºF with wool socks and these. SWEAR by them.

davour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58-iL...eature=related

check this out

dcvelo

This is right in my experience. Breathable fabrics and windproofing in the front of your jersey/jacket are key. Down to 25F I usually wear a winter jersey and winter baselayer, regular bibs and leg warmers. Shoe covers help.

Can't deal with wool against my skin though, so the base layers are synthetic...

RT

Agreed on the above. My experience has been if hands and feet are warm, the rest of me follows. I only wear one base layer, one long sleeve jersey and below 30ºF a windbreaker.

daredevil

For the guy that wears thermal long johns, jeans and wind pants, check out Sporthill 3sp fabric. Good for 0-40. Maybe some tights underneath for the colder temps would help but it is amazing fabric. It is made for running but works great on the bike. My legs are never cold, even below zero and not bulky in the least.

kimconyc

Depends on where you are riding. I was riding in the mountains in So. Cal. in January and all I had on was bibs, base-layer, and short-sleeved jersey.

I was also riding in the same mountains in So. Cal. in May and there was snow on the side of the road but I was still wearing bibs, base-layer, and short-sleeved jersey.

In the tri-state area, you need a minimum of:
Bib tights, base layer, jacket, long-fingered gloves, something to cover your head, shoe covers.

grolby

Just bibs and leg warmers down to 25 F? You are either a) lying to boost your hard man rep, or b) from the ice planet Hoth. To be entirely frank, there's not enough protection from the wind in the front of a pair of summer bib shorts. Once it starts dipping toward 40, I have to switch to tights, because otherwise it starts to feel like some very important parts are in danger of falling off. VERY painful. And when it gets down near 20, sometimes even the tights aren't good enough any more.

Incidentally, I'm planning on buying some higher-quality tights this winter.

banerjek

I've wanted to put chemical warmers in my shoes. I've also wanted to wear more socks. If you try to squeeze much stuff in there, you cut off your circulation and freeze even worse. I wear wool socks and neoprene booties when temps are around the mid 20's or so or below. But once it gets cold enough, I won't be able to feel my toes at all. Buying oversized winter shoes might be a good idea.

Velo Vol 

I try hard not to think about winter riding when it's 90 degrees outside.

Machka 

Solving the cold feet problem ...

https://www.machka.net/whatworks/coldfeet.htm

That is an article I wrote based on my experiences with winter cycling. I have spent many winters cycling right through the winter in both Manitoba and Alberta, and I've cycled in temps all the way down to -40C/F. The tips in that article are what has worked for me.

daredevil

Over sized shoes is the answer. Then those chemical warmers fit real nicely under the toes.

dcvelo

I don't own any insulated bibs or bib tights. I do have a pair of Gore chamoisless tights meant to be worn over the bibs that my wife gave me...I think I've used them once. I don't really like the extra layer.

I ride all winter using the same bibs I use during the summer and leg warmers. For whatever reason I never feel uncomfortably cold between the bottom of the jersey and the top of the leg warmers. Obviously, ymmv....

PaulRivers

I gotta tell ya, last winter it was...unfortunately I don't remember how many degrees it was out and I got out all my winter gear - wool baselayer, breathable windproof raingear, shoes covers, etc. I was cruising down the trail, feeling pretty good about my temperature, even after biking for like the last 45 minutes. I was warm, not to warm - imagine my surprise when I pass some guy on the trail wearing shorts and a regular shirt!
(And no, he wasn't shivering, didn't look homeless, didn't look crazy - just out for a bike ride)

Some people acclimate to the cold much better than others...